And, clearly, some of that has to do with a history of being more-or-less uninterested in ratings. Obviously the BBC has always wanted people to watch it so that it can keep its ... commission(?), but the desire to drag out a popular show to get every ounce of life out of it wasn't there.

Obviously there are ratings issues in the UK now, what with the commercial competition, but, still, that's how TV grew up in the UK.

Any actual Brits, please correct me if my viewpoint is invalid.